Car Review: 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK230

1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Handout, Mercedes-Benz

by
David Booth, Canwest News Service | August 10, 2011

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If anyone doubts Mercedes-Benz resolve in dumping its image of producing rolling bank vaults for the well-to-do and more-conservative-than-Maggie set, one look at its new SLK roadster should set them straight.

Certainly the sight of usually jaded auto journalists jostling for first rights to the few canary yellow (actually called Sunburst Yellow in Mercedes parlance) SLKs sprinkled amongst Mercedes’ traditional blue, red and silver hues pressed the transformation home.

It all started innocently enough last year. To surprisingly little fanfare, Mercedes launched the amazingly competent AMG-tuned C36. Then came the evocative, somewhat controversial, E-class with its distinctive cat’s eye headlights.

Hot on the E’s heels is the much talked about SLK roadster with its disappearing hardtop. Smaller and sportier than the current SL-series, the SLK is the company’s latest salvo in trying to entice a younger clientele into Mercedes showrooms.

Traditionalists decrying this loosening of the company mores should remember that Mercedes built a significant portion of its reputation on the fantasmagorical ’50s gull-wing 300SL. And the SL series hasn’t always been the porky boulevardiers that currently carry that designation. So Mercedes does have a history of building sporty cars. They just haven’t flexed those muscles recently.

As lovely as the SLK appears in pictures, the real-life item is even more gorgeous, particularly in the aforementioned yellow as well as its new Bahama Blue and Calypso Green pastels.

Unlike the Miata and BMW’s Z3, the SLK takes no overt styling cues from famous roadsters of the past. Instead, it’s a thoroughly modern rendition of the classic two-seater format with exquisitely balanced lines throughout. And because it has a removable hardtop, the SLK is equally alluring with the roof up or down.

Speaking of the Vario roof, only Mercedes could pull off such a complicated hydro-mechanical device and claim that it’s reliable for at least 20,000 cycles. (In truth, one other manufacturer could do it – Lexus. But it’s unlikely to venture this far away from its tried and true sedans.)

An automated orchestra consisting of one high-pressure hydraulic pump, five hydraulic cylinders, multiple hinges and two catches raises and lowers the roof in a perfectly conducted six-part minuet.

With the ignition on and the trunk’s retractable cover in place, a simple flick of a button lowers the windows, unlocks the roof, raises the trunk lid, lowers the roof into the luggage compartment, closes the trunklid and then raises the windows. All in 25 seconds.

Unlike the BMW Z3, the SLK is unlikely to be condemned for having too little power. Much has been made of the fact that the SLK’s powerplant is a four cylinder like the Z3’s, but Mercedes’ four pots are force-fed by a computer-controlled, Roots-type supercharger.

Opting for the 2.3 litre four banger (instead of the C280’s inline six) helped Mercedes keep the SLK’s curb weight to a mere 1,325 kilograms, letting its 191 horsepower propel the roadster to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds (just 0.6 seconds slower than Porsche’s upcoming Boxster) and a top speed of 143 mph. Throttle response, while not instantaneous, is much better than a turbocharged unit. Other than a slightly boomy exhaust note when the roof is down, there’s nothing to complain about Mercedes’ decision to stick with the smaller engine.

I tested both the 5-speed automatic Canadian version and the 5-speed manual destined for Europe. Although the stick shift has a definite edge on launch, once up to speed there’s little difference in performance between the two (Mercedes actually claims that the automatic is 0.1 seconds faster to 100 km/h). The slushbox responds quickly to enthusiastic jabs at the throttle and holds each gear well when the gear selector is rowed up and down the gated shifter.

However, the automatic does suffer one problem common to all Mercedes. From a stop, it always launches in second gear. It makes the otherwise responsive SLK feel sluggish off the line. Until you mash the throttle. Then the gearbox kicks down to first and the SLK scampers away.

Being the sportiest of all Mercedes, the SLK should start out in first gear. It would heighten the sensation of response with only a slight fuel economy penalty. As it is, the automatic SLK is like a light switch. It either creeps off the line or threatens to break the speed limit before it gets through the intersection. There’s nothing in between.

The most impressive aspect of the SLK’s performance, however, is its phenomenal chassis rigidity. Even with the roof down, there’s precious little cowl shake and with the top in place, few coupes can boast a more robust superstructure.

This strength translates into extremely competent handling. Independent suspension all around and large Michelin asymmetrical radials (205/55R16 front and 225/50R16 rear) generate prodigious grip with minimal body roll. And considering its roadgoing prowess, the SLK’s ride exacts little penalty. It’s a tad stiff at urban speeds but smoothes out considerably as the speedometer creeps upward.

Another benefit of the SLK’s rigid roof is the reduction of wind noise, traditionally a roadster’s bugaboo. But the SLK’s cabin is quieter than many a luxury sedan, even at the 160 km/h we achieved on the Italian autostrada.

The Vario roof is responsible for one of the SLK’s few shortcomings. With the roof in place, its trunk capacity is a substantial 348 litres (12.3 cu. ft.); more than most roadsters, including Mercedes own SL series. However, with the roof stowed in the upper portion of the trunk, capacity is down to a paltry 145 litres (5.0 cu. ft.).

It won’t matter much for those affluent SLK owners who buy the roadster as plaything or around town runabout. But Mercedes is also targeting SLK as the primary vehicle for the 30 to 39 set and as an only vehicle, its roof-down trunk capacity will prove a problem.

There’s precious little else to complain about the SLK. It’s one of the few cars in recent memory that goes as good as it looks. Even its price, around $55,000, is positively cheap by Mercedes standards.

Get your deposits in early. Mercedes Canada has only been allotted 350 SLKs. They won’t be hanging around showrooms long.